Brewers Beat Rays 5-4 in World Series Game 2 to Take 2-0 Lead on Pratt Go-Ahead Single

The Milwaukee Brewers beat the Tampa Bay Rays 5-4 on Saturday night in Game 2 of the World Series at American Family Field, taking a 2-0 series lead before 43,245 fans. Tampa Bay scored four in the first inning. Milwaukee replied with two, tied it in the sixth, and led for the first time in the seventh.

Tampa Bay scores four in the first inning

Yandy Diaz opened the game by reaching second base on a throwing error by Milwaukee shortstop Cooper Pratt. Chandler Simpson singled to center field to bring Diaz home. Junior Caminero then singled to left to score Simpson. Liam Hicks followed with a two run home run, measured at 411 feet, off Milwaukee starter Logan Henderson. It was the first home run of the series. Henderson needed 35 pitches to finish the inning.

Milwaukee answered in the bottom of the inning against Tampa Bay starter Drew Rasmussen. William Contreras singled to score Jackson Chourio, and Garrett Mitchell singled to score Jake Bauers, cutting the lead to 4-2.

Milwaukee closes the gap and Rasmussen leaves early

The Brewers scored again in the fourth inning. Pratt walked, moved to third on a Sal Frelick single, and scored when David Hamilton grounded to first baseman Jonathan Aranda and the ball went through Aranda's legs for an error. Rasmussen then walked Bauers to load the bases and left the game after 3 and two thirds innings. Booser then retired Christian Yelich to end the inning.

Milwaukee's defense kept the score there in the sixth. Hicks was hit by a pitch, moved to second on a bunt, and tried to score on a two out single by Victor Mesa Jr. Chourio threw him out at home, and Tampa Bay lost replay challenges on both the tag and the collision, USA Today reported.

Frelick ties it, Pratt wins it

Frelick tied the game in the bottom of the sixth. With a full count against left hander Ian Seymour, he hit a home run measured at 408 feet to center field. It came on the ninth pitch of the at bat, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported. Frelick had not homered since July 11.

The winning run scored in the seventh. Brice Turang led off with a double, and Mitchell flied out to the warning track in center field, moving Turang to third base. Pratt then singled softly down the right field line against Kevin Kelly to score Turang and give Milwaukee a 5-4 lead. It was redemption in the same game in which his first inning error had opened the scoring.

Milwaukee nearly added a run in the eighth, but Chourio was thrown out at home on a Contreras ground ball, and replay upheld the call. In the ninth, Jonny DeLuca led off with a double against Aaron Ashby. Ashby struck out Mesa Jr., Williamson grounded out to move DeLuca to third, and Ashby struck out Diaz swinging to end it, according to the Sportradar play by play. Milwaukee outhit Tampa Bay 11 to seven, each team made one error, and Tampa Bay did not score after the first inning.

What comes next

Neither team has won a World Series. Milwaukee lost its only previous appearance in seven games in 1982, and Tampa Bay lost in 2008 and 2020. Game 3 is Monday, October 26, in Tampa Bay at 7:08 p.m. Central Time, with Milwaukee two wins from the title.